GOVERNMENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES

Centre for Empowerment of Differently Abled (CEDA)

EDII has set up ‘Centre for Empowerment of Differently Abled (CEDA)’ at the Institute
supported by Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Directorate of Social
Defence, Gujarat State Handicapped (Divyang) Finance & Development Corporation,
Govt. of Gujarat. The centre has been set up to promote entrepreneurship, employability
and livelihood activities among the differently abled.

The project is aimed at unleashing the entrepreneurial potential of the differently abled
through capacity building and training to ensure enterprise creation, employability and
sustainable livelihood options.

In this 5-year project, sanctioned in 2021, efforts will be focussed on conducting

entrepreneurship and livelihood training to empower people with disabilities to train them
to initiate entrepreneurial ventures in domains of their interest and convenience. The
Centre will also undertake research to steer policies in this direction.

The tangible outcomes of the project would be visible in terms of sensitisation of 11,500
participants and hardcore training of 12000 of these, thus resulting in improved
economic patterns; higher incidence of employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood,
inclusive growth, empowerment, setting up of close to 4800 enterprises and generation
of around 9600 employment opportunities.
Objectives
The centre will aim at promoting entrepreneurship, employability and livelihood activities
among the divyangjan. Through an all-inclusive approach, the centre will sensitise, train
and build capacities of the differently abled, thus resulting in improved economic
patterns; higher incidence of employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood, inclusive
growth, empowerment, setting up of new enterprises and generation of employment
opportunities.

To unleash the entrepreneurial potential of the differently abled through capacity building
and training to ensure enterprise creation, employability and sustainable livelihood
options.
Vision
“Mainstreaming divyangjan through sustainable economic empowerment for self-
reliance, autonomy and inclusivity”.
Activities
Sensitisation and Awareness Creation:
CEDA works in rural as well as urban areas of Gujarat to sensitize the divyangjan and
spreads awareness about adopting entrepreneurship as a career. CEDA conducts the
following programmes for sensitization and awareness creation.
 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAP)
 Entrepreneurship Orientation Programmes (EOP)
 Community Outreach Programmes (COP)
Policy Research and Publication:
Policy research, dissemination of findings and publications ensure advocacy in addition
to creating a knowledge infrastructure, based on which outcome based activities are
designed. One of the important responsibilities of CEDA is to undertake policy research
and publications. Following are some of the research and publication activities of CEDA:
 Research studies • Project profiles
 Modules and booklets • Impact assessment studies
 Success stories • Policy briefs
Capacity Building:
Capacity building will enable Divyangjan to identify viable business opportunities,
develop feasible linkages available under various government schemes like MUDRA,
Stand-up India, and Start-up India, and float own enterprises. Following activities are
conducted for Divyangjan, under this initiative.
 Thematic Programmes (TP)
 Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP)
 Trainers’ Training Programmes (TTP)
Livelihood and Skill Development:
Livelihood and Skill Development Programmes enable Divyangjan to adopt sustainable
livelihoods. This, in turn, has a conspicuous impact on their personality, in terms of
raised confidence, self-esteem and rewarding entrepreneurial traits. Under this activity,
following livelihood and skill development training programmes are conducted for
divyangjan.
 Livelihood Programmes (LP)
 Development Soft Skills Programmes (DSSP)
Dissemination Events:
CEDA works with the intent of organising activities and undertaking policy advocacy for
the benefit of the Divyangjan. Dissemination of findings and information, as also
brainstorming sessions help create awareness, spread knowledge and result in evidence
based activities for the target group. The following activities provide a platform for
networking and support for economic empowerment of the divyangjan:

 Consultative Meets
 Workshops
 Roundtable conferences
 Seminars